As Friday marked 70 years since VE Day, T and I had a day of learning all about 'Victory in Europe Day' and made this little project as a way to acknowledge and thank the brave servicemen and women who fought so hard to keep our freedom.
I was very sad that Grandpa didn't make it to celebrate this anniversary so we made him a medal and stuck it on his photo. I'm sure he's looking down on us and knows we went to the effort to appreciate his part in ww2.
You will need:
Cardboard (we used recycled food packaging)
Kitchen foil
Ribbon
Tape
First T drew around a small glass to make a circle.
Which he then cut out.
We measured how much foil we would need.
And then wrapped the card in the foil.
After looking at lots of pictures of medals online T then drew on a picture.
We attached the ribbon to the back of the medal and voila!
This was a lovely little craft to bring history to the present day, it's sad we had no-one to present our medals to in person, but it did open up a host of other activities for our VE Day learning - post to follow'
These medals would also be great for competitions and Olympic days or for any other war anniversary, like remembrance. See more remembrance ideas here.
Can you think of any way I could extend this project? I'd love to hear from you if can.
I love this, fantastic idea. Maybe you could combine with doing a whole sports themed day/party for friends.
ReplyDeleteMedals for everyone, and not just first, second or third, but medals for things like "best runner" "most imaginative dancer" "best at balancing egg on a spoon" and make certificates and flags to wave as well?
What a wonderful idea! Think we might do something like that in the summer!
DeleteThanks for taking the time to comment Laura xx
This is such a great activity for teaching them about VE day & history. I can't wait till my daughter is big enough to do activities like this.
ReplyDeleteI think you could extend this by getting your little one to do something brave/or volunteer. The medal could be a reward for kind services to the community! :-D xx
That's a great idea Chloe. I might do something like that for our elderly neighbours!
DeleteThanks so much for suggesting it! Xx
Love that you did this. I think it's hard to find a way to talk to them about war. This is such an accessible way to talk about what that generation did for us. #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
ReplyDeleteThanks Annabel, it is so hard to get it right with war.
DeleteThank you so much for commenting xx
That's a lovely idea! My grandpa died last year (would have been 100 last month), I would love to have done something like this for him. A lovely memory and helping T understand what the older generations did for us. Not sure how to extend the activity, I never know how to explore the topic of war with O, yet he has several books with war planes, ships, trains and tanks in them...
ReplyDeleteWow Jenny that's some age bless him. I think it's so important. We are going to give one to my Grandma along with this photo xx
DeleteWhat a lovely idea. A great activity to help with learning about war and show appreciation too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much xx
DeleteSuch a wonderful idea and such a nice little touch to add them to the photograph. He would have been proud! I'm sad I didn't have Luke with me but I know he went to the parades with his dad as we live in an Army town. I'm hoping next year he'll be able to have enough understanding for a basic talk about everything and to do some crafts or something similar to this. :) I like the witty title too. ;) Ray xx
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that you have parades, we get nothing at all even work don't do silence which I think is outrageous! xx
DeleteI think that's so lovely and a way for your little man to connect with his Grandpa and learn too! Perhaps you could make huge medals and decorate them a bit more. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sarah xx
DeleteI love these. He looks so proud :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Clare he was xx
DeleteAww this is so lovely. Such a wonderful way to learn about the past #toddlerapprovedtuesday
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rachel, I love history so really enjoy being able to introduce the past to T xx
DeleteI love that you have used this as a way for T to stay knowedgable about his Grandad. As you know I lost my Grandad a few year ago, and he watches over us via a photo on top of our TV. I will never ever get bored of telling the children special little stories about him. Sorry a bot of topic there!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely story it's so important to share these little stories xx
DeleteOh, that's a great way to get your son involved with the VE day celebrations and with the memory of your grandad. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment. I appreciate you stopping by xx
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